My hairdresser warned me years ago: eyebrow shapes do change.
Right now, they're changing for the better.
Right now, they're changing for the better.
Image from SmartBrow Eyebrow Filler at DermStore
For years, eyebrow shapes have been thickest toward the bridge of the nose & thinnest by the temples. But now the opposite emphasis is beginning to take hold. Take the shape of the brows above--thinnest by the bridge, arched heaviest toward her temples. Great eyebrows, lady!
This shift opens out our look. It draws the attention toward the temples. The effect is to make one’s eyes look more wide set & one’s impression more open & carefree.
This old photo of Alanis Morissette that I found in an issue of Psychology Today demonstrates what we don't want in my opinion. Alanis’ eyebrows here are shaped heaviest toward the bridge of her nose & thinnest at the “tail,” or at her temples. Her eyebrows draw attention to the inner corner of her eyes. It’s subtle, but the effect of drawing the attention inward is that one looks more severe.
If you have close-set eyes already, this eyebrow shape above will make your eyes look even closer. At its worst, the look is mousy and pinched.
Here's an example of the new look we want, taken from a model shot in my Athleta catalog:
Here's an example of the new look we want, taken from a model shot in my Athleta catalog:
Image from Athleta
Notice that her eyebrows are thinnest by the bridge of her nose & thickest toward her temples. It's not easy to achieve this look because most of us have less hair at the temples. Most waxing/threading joints will also thwart you if you don't speak up since they default to the old style. It'll take a little longer before the new shape fully takes hold, I imagine.
Look at Cameron Diaz's eyebrows from the cover of the latest Instyle Magazine, just another example.
A couple more examples--
this one from my Victoria's Secret catalog...
And this one from Fossil...
Last one from the models out there, & then I'll stop. Emily Ratajkowski from Blurred Lines has a beautiful face & beautiful eyebrows that extend for miles. Her eyebrows are a signature feature for her, & she wears them dark & bold.
Here are my eyebrows. Luckily since eyebrows grow back, & I have thick eyebrows anyway, I’ve been able to endure many goofs-ups & misshapings. I haven’t managed to move the complete emphasis to the outer edge, but I continue to try.
Monday we'll talk about the pros & cons of threading vs. waxing.
Tell us about your eyebrow shape. Do you think the different shapes change one’s impression?
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